April 10, 2007

The Museum of Broadcast Communications will have a top 100. Meanwhile, here's one contributor's top 10. The top 10 is clogged with some obvious choices, so it would be more interesting to see the next 1o. Anyway, Bush is represented by "I can hear you!" Clinton, by I have "caused pain in our marriage."

60 comments:

I would have to put some of the Watergate Hearings in there somewhere. Talk about the power of television. I was in Lexington, Ky that summer and the streets were empty during the broadcasts...middle day...We had potluck lunches to sit and watch.

I was 13 when I listened to the televised McCarthy-Army hearings on TV. I had always assumed the Army was the "goog guy" and didnt really understand Senator McCarthy's red baiting trip. Joseph Welch's rejoineder to McCarthy absolutely riveted me--esp as it was obvious, even to a 13 year old, that McCarthy didnt even understand what Welch was saying. He yammered on as Welch delivered what was a heartfelt condemnation of the Senator from Wisconsin. I mark that exchange as my personal political awakening. It was really high theater.

Clinton's quote in the top ten seems more about trying to include him than because of something really memorable. "We all remember Clinton right?" And Obama's? Significant for people who are wanting media moments, not for the country. Not at all.

Surely, Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" line should be in the top five.

I always did like the speech "The Era of Big Government is Over." I have been hoping for it for years... and then to have a democratic president say it...what could be better. Alas, it was too good to be true. Big government is still here - I need my E85!

The news channels pulling Florida back to undecided from Gore was also a great political TV moment.

Nick's right -- if you had to pick a Clinton moment, the "that woman" speech is a lot more memorable and significant than his 60 Minutes appearance.

Really, though, the Clinton and Obama moments have no place on the list, as (unlike the rest of the entries) they really had no impact on politics. The Bush entry is questionable too -- if you had to pick a Bush moment, the 9/11 address to the nation where he swore not to distinguish between the terrorists and those who support them would be a better pick.

"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. Go home and get a nice quiet sleep"

Revenant: if you had to pick a Clinton moment, the "that woman" speech is a lot more memorable and significant than his 60 Minutes appearance. Really, though, the Clinton and Obama moments have no place on the list

You're right, thats his Legacy Quote, and it doesn't measure up to the others. But what damning contrast:

Ask not what your country can do for you ...tear down this wall ...a day that will live in infamy ...this was their finest hour ...we have nothing to fear but fear itself ...I did not have sex with that woman...

It will be curious to see if Clinton's quote makes the list. And interesting to deterimine why.

I guess Kennedy's speech at Rice University isn't so much a political moment as a major historical event. But my first thought was the Kennedy/Nixon debates. I think what is more notable is the short list of people who could fill most of the 100 slots:

Concur with those who say Churchill was a master of the language--his speeches still evoke passion and grandeur.

Although not a political event in any real sense of the word, I was very touched during President Reagan's funeral when Dame Thatcher approached his casket and stood quietly in front of it. Political? no; but in my opinion, extraordinarily special.

The author obviously has a very poor knowledge of history. I would think Lincoln's July 4, 1861 address to Congress, which launched this nation into the Civil War, would be more important than most, if not all, of those selections.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds - and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,I've chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,I've topped the windswept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or even eagle flew -And, while with silent lifting mind I've trodThe high untresspassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

"Мы вас похороним!" -- "We will bury you" (Intended to mean, we will still be around to attend your funeral, not necessarily cause it.)

"I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president." Which is awfully close to what untelevised William Sherman said, "If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve."

"It will be the mother of all wars." Not sure that was televised.

"The president just needs to step back and take a deep breath." Kidding.

When Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley were debating in 1968 after the Democratic National Convention. Vidal called Buckley a "crypto-nazi" and Buckley replied: "Shut up you goddamn queer or I'll punch you in the mouth."